March Madness started last week and it has been electric so far. Fans have been privy to bracket-busting upsets, nail-biting finishes and managers receiving NIL deals. Now that the tournament is down to the final 16 teams, the Scout’s sports writers are ready to make their championship picks.
Texas Tech
By Owen Dimpfl
The Red Raiders earned a No. 3 seed in this year’s March Madness tournament. Given how strong the top teams were this season, this Texas Tech team could’ve been a No. 2 any other year. The Red Raiders are sixth in the nation for offensive efficiency and average 80.8 points per game. They can beat you in different ways with adjustments. In the first round against UNC-Wilmington, the Red Raiders shot a record 46 three-point attempts. In the second round against Drake, they only attempted 14 from deep while scoring 54% from the field. Balance is everything this time of year.
Sophomore sensation JT Toppin is a difference-maker that championship contenders need to have. Toppin averages 18.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, shooting 56.2% from the field. He recorded double-doubles in both tournament games, including a 25-point, 12-rebound game against Drake. Opposing teams can’t consistently double Toppin when three other Red Raiders also average scoring in double figures. Texas Tech is deep and dangerous with a manageable path to the Final Four.
Duke
By Steffen White
It’s the chalk pick, but it’s the right pick. Coach Jon Scheyer has the Blue Devils rolling heading into the Sweet 16. They barely had to break a sweat in their first two games, rolling Mount St. Mary’s and Baylor to set up a date with Arizona.
Looking at that matchup specifically, Arizona relies heavily on their starters, and the depth Duke provides, specifically with Caleb Foster, Mason Gillis and Patrick Ngongba, will wear the Wildcats down and propel them to the Elite Eight. This team just keeps winning, and when you have the best player in the tournament in Cooper Flagg, it’s difficult to see anyone being able to stop them.
Florida
By Ethan Diamond
After surviving a scare against back-to-back defending champions UConn, the Gators are poised to continue their run in hopes of achieving their first national title since their back-to-back title runs under Billy Donovan in 2006 and 2007.
Maryland (who was also a strong contender) stands in their way next, but Florida has the best offense in the country and should control that game, setting up for a match with either Texas Tech or Arkansas in the Elite Eight. Walter Clayton Jr. has become a star in this tournament with his heroics against the Huskies and is a finalist for Naismith Player of the Year. He will lead arguably the most complete team in the country to the Final Four and eventually to cutting down the nets in San Antonio.
Tennessee
BY MARK WAGNER
Apart from the No. 1 seeds, Tennessee had the best odds of winning March Madness. With an NBA prospect in Chaz Lanier leading them and Zakai Zeigler and Jordan Gainey averaging more than 10 points per game, the Volunteers are possibly one of the more complete lineups in college basketball. Going into the Sweet 16, they play Kentucky, whom they have lost to twice already this season.
However, if their big players can come up clutch, they can make it to the Elite Eight, tying their best NCAA tournament runs ever from 2010 and 2024. If they reach the final, however, they may have a tough schedule, most likely playing Houston, then Duke and finally either Auburn or Florida. But if they play the type of basketball that got them to this point, then Rick Barnes’ men could possibly take home a national championship for the first time in their history.
Houston
BY CRISTINA SOLANO
Contributor
Standing as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest bracket of the NCAA tournament, there is no doubt that the Houston Cougars can’t take home the national championship. With his size and physicality, forward J’Wan Roberts is crucial for the Cougars’ defense.
At the same time, guard L.J Cryer is explosive on offense with the ability to put up points in many ways. Whether that is through perimeter shooting, scoring in transition or driving to the basket. On top of the explosiveness of the Cougars, the team has a high win probability against their Sweet 16 opponent, the Purdue Boilermakers, who had a 13-7 conference record while the Cougars had a 19-1 conference record. From their defensive intensity that wears down their opponents to their well-rounded offense, they are not going down without a fight, no matter who steps toe-to-toe against them.
Auburn
By Latif Love
Heading into the tournament, Auburn was selected as the No. 1 overall seed ahead of teams such as Duke and Florida, for good reason. The Tigers are the most battle-tested team in the country, with 17 quad one wins and six quad two wins. Auburn won the regular-season title in the SEC, arguably the strongest conference in college basketball history. The Tigers are led by national player of the year runner-up Johni Broome, who is averaging 18.4 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
However, Auburn is not solely reliant on Broome to win games, and historically, guard play has led teams to national championships. The team’s X -factor will be freshman Tahaad Pettiford. He’s averaged 19.6 points per game through two tournament games and shot 44% from three. If Pettiford can keep it up, the Tigers’ combination of depth, talent, size and hall-of-fame level coaching will take the team very far in this tournament.
